Following Carrots

I have had several questions on what, exactly, constitutes a carrot pant and who should wear them.  So here are the basics.

First, this is a carrot pant.  High waist, full through the hips and thighs, tapered at the ankle.

A great pair, $49.95 at Anthropologie.com.

This is a sub-set of a larger trend for the season - pleated pants.  And they can be a fun way to branch into the more fashion-forward.  But they are a dangerous trend, because they are decidedly not for most body types.   So who should wear, and who should beware?

Wear

These pants can be nice on a "model" figure - very straight and tall, as long as a little breadth is added to the upper regions.  And they can be great on a woman who is measurably larger on top than on bottom.  Why?  Because they will balance the upper half with the lower half, providing the much sought-after "hour-glass" proportion that will ultimately give the illusion of a smaller figure overall.

Beware

Do you have larger hips and thighs than bust and shoulders?  We'll find you another trend for spring.  These pants are just not for you.  Why, you ask?  I'll explain.  Say you have big feet.  Would you wear clown shoes to down-play them?  Certainly not.  Carrot pants are a hip'y girl's clown shoes.  They'll only make her look bigger in that already-disproportionately large area, thus creating the illusion of a larger frame generally.  Translation:  they'll make you look fatter.  Steer clear.

Any questions?

The Carrot Leads to the Harem. Don't Follow.

In my last post, I discussed how the carrot pant could be detrimental to the hips of a perfectly lovely woman.  As a refresher, the carrot pant is a high-waisted pant that is full through the hips and thighs, and tapers to the calf.  The carrot leads to her big sister, the harem pant, and I warn you not to follow.  

The harem is not just full.  It is voluminous.  Like wearing hot air balloons on your legs.  Who is this good for?  Models, you may say?  Take a look at this picture - of a model - and come to your own conclusions.  

Harem Pants.  We report.  You decide.

A Note on the Carrot Pant

There will be more on this fun fashion faux-pas to come, but for now, let me just say that if you have been wanting to try this trend, I applaud you.  Go for it!  But be weary, hip'y girls.   Although they may feel comfortable and give you the comfort of "covering" an area you may not like, they'll not slim you.  That's like covering a marshmallow with buttercream and thinking it's camouflaged.  

Stay tuned for examples of how to and how not to wear these crazy carrots.

Who am I really?

I am a professional stylist for a retailer of unique apparel and home decor items that appeal to an age-defying and personality-embracing range of women.  I spend my days helping my clients find their own style, or just the perfect outfit for girls' night out.  And I want to broaden my reach beyond our little zip code to help any woman who happens upon my blog to find her style, and hopefully in the process, herself.

Who is the e-stylist?

The e-stylist is a woman with an eye for fashion.  A woman who knows how to pair a high-waisted skirt with a sleeveless chiffon blouse and a feathery scarf, or teal with chartreuse and navy.  She knows which figures can wear a carrot pant, and which would be best served by a plunging v-neck. She has the intuition to know what colors, prints and cuts her clients are drawn to.  And she knows how to merge the two - what is best for a woman's figure, and what she just really likes.  

The e-stylist is a woman who's favorite part about being a stylist is helping other women become their own stylists.  And she's online.